Conn. Senate hopefuls split on Lieberman legacy

HARTFORD -- The five Democrats seeking to succeed Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman agreed in a debate Sunday on tax policy but differed on Lieberman's legacy.

The candidates said in the one-hour debate on WFSB-TV that they supported increased taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

"We need to bring fairness to tax policy," said former Secretary of the State Susan Bysiewicz.

State Rep. William Tong said he supports the "Buffett Rule," a proposal backed by President Barack Obama requiring that people earning at least $1 million annually, whether in salary or from investments, pay at least 30 percent of their incomes in taxes.

The plan, which is named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who says he pays a lower tax rate than his secretary, is expected to be considered in the Senate on Monday.

U.S. Rep. Chris Murphy said Lieberman deserves credit for working with Republicans to compromise on legislation.

"Despite the fact that I disagree on the issues that he has reached out across the aisle on, I certainly don't punish him for being one of the few who has occasionally been willing to work with Republicans," he said.

State Rep. William Tong praised Lieberman.

"I do honor Sen. Lieberman's service and his record of consensus-building and cooperation in the U.S. Senate," he said. "That's something that we sorely need down in Washington."

Lieberman, a Democrat first elected to the Senate in 1988, was defeated for re-nomination in 2006 by Greenwich businessman Ned Lamont due primarily to his support for the Iraq war.

He was re-elected as an Independent, and is not seeking a fifth term.

Matthew Oakes of East Hartford said Lieberman has stopped representing Connecticut and has become a Washington insider.

"He really lost touch with the people of Connecticut," he said. "That's the big disappointment with him."

Lee Whitnum of Greenwich, who has made opposition to the U.S.-Israel alliance a centerpiece of her campaign, blamed the Iraq war on Lieberman.

"We need people who are 100 percent American," she said.

A call to Lieberman's Washington office seeking comment was not immediately returned.

The candidates also said they backed gun control legislation.

Tong said cooperation between Democrats and Republicans helped pass state legislation requiring that lost or stolen guns be reported in 72 hours to make it harder for their sale to criminals.

"That's the kind of leadership we need in Washington, common sense legislation," he said.

Murphy said lobbying by the National Rifle Association makes such legislation nearly impossible in Washington.

"The NRA has more control over Congress than almost any other political interest group there," he said.